UK BAE Systems Integrates US Radar to Counter Drone Threats with Layered Air Defense Technology.

BAE Systems is expanding its counter-drone capabilities by integrating the US-made EchoShield radar, developed by Echodyne, into its Anti Threat System (BATS). Capable of tracking more than 1,000 objects simultaneously and detecting different categories of drones at distances of several kilometers, the radar is intended to improve aerial surveillance and the coordination of countermeasures. The system is designed to protect military installations, deployed units, and critical infrastructure against unmanned aerial threats.

BAE Systems’ Anti-Threat System (BATS) during live counter-drone trials in Scotland, demonstrating the integration of multiple sensors and effectors within a layered defense architecture. (Picture source: BAE Systems)

Key Tactical Insights

• Radar Integration: British defense company BAE Systems has integrated the US-made Echodyne EchoShield radar into its  System (BATS) counter-drone architecture.
  
  
• Detection Capabilities: EchoShield can maintain over 1,000 simultaneous tracks and track Group 3 unmanned aircraft at distances of up to 11.4 km.
• Layered Drone Defense: BATS combines radar surveillance, electronic warfare, and kinetic effectors to support coordinated responses against drones, including threats resistant to radio-frequency jamming.

The integration forms part of the development of BATS, a layered defense architecture combining multiple sensors, electronic warfare equipment, and kinetic interception systems. It centralizes surveillance information and allows operators to identify threats before selecting available countermeasures. The system can be installed at fixed positions, deployed temporarily, or integrated into mobile platforms according to operational requirements.

On November 10, 2026, Echodyne confirmed the selection of its EchoShield radar for BATS following a two-week trial campaign conducted by BAE Systems in Scotland. Announced on October 1, these demonstrations tested the complete process from drone detection to engagement, combining multiple sensors and effectors. However, EchoShield's participation in the earlier trials has not been confirmed.

Related News: Kongsberg Adds U.S. Echodyne Radar to PROTECTOR Stations to Turn Remote Turrets Into Drone Hunters

A Radar Capable of Tracking Drones at Several Kilometers

EchoShield is a medium-range four-dimensional radar using Echodyne's Metamaterials Electronically Scanned Array (MESA) technology. Operating in the Ku-band between 15.4 and 16.6 GHz, it provides electronic surveillance without a mechanically rotating antenna. Its field of view extends 130 degrees horizontally and 90 degrees vertically, with an angular accuracy of less than 0.5 degrees.

The radar offers typical tracking ranges of 2.7 to 4.8 km against Group 1 drones, which include the lightest unmanned aircraft. These distances increase to between 4.8 and 6.4 km for Group 2 systems and reach up to 11.4 km for Group 3 drones, depending on their radar cross-section. Actual performance varies according to the aircraft's dimensions, radar signature, and deployment conditions.

EchoShield can maintain more than 1,000 tracks while updating target positions ten times per second through a 10 Hz tracking rate. This information can be transmitted to other surveillance systems and effectors through Ethernet interfaces. The radar measures approximately 42.5 cm in height, 33 cm in width, and 18 cm in depth, weighs 17.8 kg, and consumes less than 250 watts during operation. These dimensions allow integration into vehicles or temporary surveillance installations.

Tracking accuracy is particularly relevant when dealing with small drones operating at low altitude. An aircraft flying behind buildings or close to terrain may temporarily disappear from radar coverage, while other moving objects can complicate classification. EchoShield's ability to maintain stable tracks helps provide coordinates that electro-optical sensors and interception systems can use, although terrain and physical obstacles continue to restrict surveillance coverage.

BATS Combines Electronic Warfare and Kinetic Interception

BATS uses an open architecture designed to integrate radars, electro-optical systems, electronic warfare equipment, and kinetic effectors within a common command-and-control network. Operators receive a shared airspace picture and can select a response suited to the identified drone category without managing each system independently.

The trials conducted in Scotland covered three distinct scenarios. The first focused on detecting and identifying airborne objects through the fusion of data from multiple sensors. The second demonstrated the integration of electronic warfare equipment and software-defined radios to engage targets confirmed by operators. The third tested the complete detection and engagement process in a more complex tactical scenario involving different drone categories. An integrated weapon system was also demonstrated during the campaign.

This combination illustrates the role of layered defense against threats that cannot all be neutralized using the same technology. Radio-frequency jamming can disrupt drones relying on command links or satellite navigation, but its effectiveness is limited against autonomous aircraft or those controlled through fiber-optic cables. Kinetic interception provides another option, provided a suitable effector is available. By connecting these capabilities within a common architecture, BATS allows operators to select different countermeasures while retaining human control over engagements.

For military units, this approach could support the protection of convoys, command posts, and logistics depots exposed to reconnaissance drones and loitering munitions. The ability to track numerous objects simultaneously is also relevant during attacks involving multiple aircraft, although the number of radar tracks does not correspond to the number of targets that can be engaged. That capacity depends on the available effectors, their ammunition supply, and the time required for each interception.

Addressing Lessons from Conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East

The development of BATS comes as conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East expose the limitations of counter-drone systems relying on a single technology. Drones using fiber-optic control links reduce the effectiveness of radio-frequency jamming, while attacks involving multiple aircraft can overwhelm available interception systems. BAE Systems is continuing to develop BATS toward operational deployment, including the integration of additional sensors and effectors. Combining the American EchoShield radar with this British command-and-control architecture could support the development of layered defense networks capable of protecting multiple sites and sharing threat information between different positions.

Written By Erwan Halna du Fretay - Defense Analyst, Army Recognition Group
Erwan Halna du Fretay holds a Master’s degree in International Relations and has experience studying conflicts and global arms transfers. His research interests lie in Security and strategic studies, particularly the dynamics of the defense industry, the evolution of military technologies, and the strategic transformation of armed forces.

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